The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

An important ‘Q’ ship commander’s D.S.O. and Bar group awarded to Lieutenant Commander S. H. Simpson, Royal Navy

Seven: Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar; 1914-15 Star Trio, M.I.D. (Lt. Commr. S. H. Simpson, R.N.); Defence and War Medals; French Croix de Guerre 1914-17, with bronze palm, minor enamel chips to wreath of D.S.O., otherwise nearly extremely fine (7)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 29 August1917: "The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Distinguished Service Order for services in action with enemy submarines."

Bar to D.S.O. London Gazette 22 February 1918: "The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of services in action with enemy submarines."

Croix de Guerre London Gazette 17 May 1918.

The award of both D.S.O. and Bar were for actions with enemy submarines whilst in command of the ‘Q’ ship CULLIST. In the first action, which took place on 13 July 1917, when an enemy Submarine was sighted on the surface at 11,000 yards range, the submarine began shelling the CULLIST. After firing 38 rounds without recording a hit the enemy submarine began to close the range to 5,000 yards and fired a further 30 rounds which were beginning to straddle the CULLIST. At 1407 CULLIST returned fire, the gunners came on range after the second salvo was fired and numerous hits were recorded on the conning tower, gun and deck; an explosion was seen in the area of the conning tower followed by bright red flames. Three minutes after engaging the enemy the Submarine sank by the bows leaving oil and debris on the surface.

Whilst still under Commander Simpson's Command, the CULLIST fought two further actions with enemy submarines. On August 20 1917 an enemy submarine was sighted on the surface and opened fire on the CULLIST at 9,000 yards range. After 82 rounds had been fired by the submarine with which he scored one hit on the water-line of the stokehold. This shell injured both the firemen on watch slightly and caused a large rush of water into the stokehold, which was overcome by plugging the hole and shoring it up. Several time-fuzed shrapnel were fired against the ship but without effect. The submarine closed the range to 4,500 yards at which time the Cullist returned fire and scored to hits in the area of the conning tower upon which the submarine was seen to dive and contact was lost.

On the 17 November 1917 the CULLIST was sighted by an enemy submarine who opened fire at 8,000 yards range. Within five minutes the enemy had the range and a shell glanced off the CULLIST's side damaging one of three officer's cabins before bursting on the water line. After disappearing in a bank of fog the submarine reappeared and continued to shell the CULLIST with such accuracy that for 50 minutes the decks and bridge were continually sprayed with shell splinters and drenched with water from near misses. In all, the enemy submarine fired 92 rounds. The CULLIST returned fire from 4,500 yards, 14 rounds were fired at the submarine of which 6 were seen to be direct hits. The submarine, although badly damaged, was able to turn away, dive and escape.

On 11 February 1918, CULLIST was torpedoed without warning in the Irish Sea and sank in two minutes. The U-Boat surfaced and asked for the Captain, but was told that he had been killed. The U-Boat then picked up two men and after verbally abusing the survivors, then made off. Simpson, who had been wounded, was pulled into one of the rafts, and the survivors were subsequently rescued by the patrol trawler JAMES GREEN.

Salisbury Hamilton Simpson entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet on 15 May 1901; promoted to Midshipman 15 May 1901, Sub Lieutenant 15 October1904, Lieutenant 1 April1907, Lieutenant Commander 1 April 1915, Commander 30 June 1919 and retired as a Captain 16 December 1930. He was Senior Naval Officer, Upper Yangtze, in command of H.M.S. WIDGEON from December 1924 to June 1926. Captain Simpson was recalled for service in 1939 as a retired Captain R.N., and saw service afloat and ashore as a Divisional Sea Transport Officer. He was appointed Divisional Sea Transport Officer Plymouth 1939-41, Belfast 1941-42, Northern Ireland 1943-45. Released from active service late 1945 and reverted to the Retired List. Died 1949-1950. The lot is sold with copies of Simpson’s confidential OXO Reports on "Actions between Special Service Vessels and Enemy Submarines", and copies of the CULLIST's Log giving full details of the above actions.